Drugs are a big cause of concern in Bahrain’s prisons according to a summary in the Gulf Daily News of a recent report by the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS). The findings of three inspections conducted last year, the first in June and two more in December, all at the Jaw men’s prison in the south of the Kingdom, were issued at the end of last month. The group of 13 doctors, psychologists, academics, social workers and lawyers, who met with a random selection of 12% of the prison inmates in December, heard the following:
* Some prisoners claimed that they were supplied with drugs by wardens.
* Some prisoners were introduced to drugs when in prison.
* Young prisoners were being held with older prisoners, as well as those in jail for minor offences
being held with more serious criminals.
* A support group made up of former addicts had set themselves up to help others with drug
problems.
The report on Jaw prison, previously the site of hunger strikes over alleged abuses, will be sent out to various United Nations agencies as well as several international human rights organisations.
